The international team captain Nick Price reposed his faith in Anirban Lahiri, setting aside men ranked higher to elect the Indian to the team.

Sep 7, 2017: Anirban Lahiri is living on the edge these days. The 30-year-old Indian finished T56 in last week’s Dell Technologies Championship, just enough to survive in the FedexCup Playoffs at 70th on the list. The news of his inclusion to the President’s Cup came as a nice surprise for the golfer and his fans. The kind words of encouragement from compatriot Jeev Milkha Singh and the faith of his captain Nick Price should spur Anirban Lahiri to a strong showing in the President’s Cup.

“I look forward to play in the President’s Cup again this season,” Anirban told me when we spoke at the Open Championship this July. “The team setting and the competition should bring the best out of me. I would love to play for the Internationals and give my very best.”

Price seemed to have set conventional wisdom aside in choosing to include Lahiri, who is placed 16th on the ranking list that determines the team for this prestigious event.

“He brings a lot to the team room,” Price said. “He’s got a very positive personality. There were many reasons, but the big reason for us is he plays full time on the U.S. tour.”

Lahiri was heartbroken in the previous edition of the President’s Cup in 2015, when he went 0-3 in an event that the Americans won narrowly.

The opportunity offered by Price should spur Lahiri to bring out his best game when the team assembles in New Jersey later this month. The President’s Cup will be played at the Liberty National from the 26 – 30 September.

“Since the last Presidents Cup in South Korea, I’ve been here full-time the last two years and I’ve learnt a lot and kind of adapt and made America my new home,” Lahiri told the media. “So yeah, a lot of experience also gained since the last Presidents Cup, and I’m really ready to go back.”

“It’s been two years waiting. Obviously I’ve been wanting to get back on team ever since that day in Korea. It’s something that I feel that I need to do,” Lahiri added, remembering the three-footer he missed on the 18th hole in 2015.

“I felt like I let the team down, and I feel like I need to go back out there and contribute to the winning cause.

“I’ve definitely learned a lot, after having moved here, played here, and I feel like I’m ready to go back out there and make a positive difference to the team.”